COMMUNICATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE PARLIAMENT ON A EUROPEAN COMMUNITY BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
COM (98)42
On 4th February 1998, the European Commission adopted a Communication on a European Biodiversity Strategy. This strategy aims to anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of significant reduction or loss of biodiversity at the source. This will help both to reverse present trends in biodiversity reduction or losses and to place species and ecosystems, including agro-ecosystems, at a satisfactory conservation status, both within and beyond the territory of the European Union (EU). The Communication was presented by Environment Commissioner Ritt BJERREGAARD, who characterised this initiative as "a model case for integration of environmental policies into key policy areas".
During the last decades reduction and losses on biodiversity at a global scale has accelerated dramatically. Existing measures have proved to be insufficient to reverse present trends. The best way forward is for actors in the relevant policy areas to assume the responsibility for the impacts of their policies on biodiversity. With this strategy, the EU reinforces its leading role world-wide in the efforts to find solutions for biodiversity within the framework of the United Nations´ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
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